Chief Executive John Lee delivered his fourth Policy Address at the Legislative Council on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Hong Kong to open 8 gov’t-run venues for commercial, private use
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department also said it would allow commercial advertising at 16 of its venues and facilities, including the external wall of City Hall’s High Block, the harbour-facing façade of the Cultural Centre, and the dome of the Hong Kong Space Museum.
Hong Kong NGO calls for legal reform as victims of non-consensual condom removal struggle to seek help
A total of 57 out of 277 respondents in the survey said they had experienced stealthing, also known as non-consensual condom removal.
60% of Hong Kong direct subsidy schools welcome trial to admit more international students
Dion Chen, chair of the Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council, gave assurance that the trial scheme would not affect local students’ admissions because the new spots are reserved only for international students.
35,000 imported workers in Hong Kong as of late August, labour chief says
Workers imported under the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) accounted for around 1 per cent of the city’s labour force, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said.
HKFP Monitor September 20, 2025: Where did ‘Night Vibes’ go; Hong Kong as a hub of hubs
This week, we look into the strange disappearance of the Hong Kong government’s Night Vibes website and what happened to this marquee policy for reviving local tourism, retail and catering.
Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong leader pledges to help local media expand overseas, vows no interference
The media in Hong Kong received a rare mention in the 2025 Policy Address on Wednesday, when Chief Executive John Lee said the government will assist local press to expand their network beyond the city.
Policy Address 2025: Include ‘affirmative consent,’ NGO urges, as city leader vows to amend sexual offence laws
A supplement in Chief Executive John Lee’s Wednesday address states that the Security Bureau will aim to complete legislative amendments within the current term of the government.
Policy Address 2025: Greenpeace urges climate initiatives as lawmakers heap praise on leader’s annual speech
“The Policy Address focuses on adding hardware infrastructure without considering the environment’s carrying capacity,” Greenpeace wrote, adding it was concerned that the development of country parks could destroy Hong Kong’s natural landscapes.
Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong holds off on reviving public housing purchase scheme
Local media cited government sources on Wednesday as saying that the scheme had not been relaunched owing to “divisions” in society, including factors such as the discount rates and the views of public housing tenants.
Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong to expand student suicide emergency mechanism to upper primary
The Three-tier School-based Emergency Mechanism, rolled out in December 2023 amid an upward trend in student suicides, will become a permanent policy to strengthen support for those in need, Chief Executive John Lee said in his Policy Address on Wednesday.
Policy Address 2025: HK$260,000 tax allowance for parents extended to 2 years per newborn
Chief Executive John Lee announced that the claim period for the doubled child tax allowance will be extended to two years, starting in the 2026/27 assessment period. The measure will be applicable to all children under the age of two by the end of the year of assessment.
Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong to enforce stricter employment ratio in labour import scheme
The current requirement to maintain a ratio of at least two full-time local employees for every imported worker is expected to remain unchanged, as Lee made no mention of an adjustment.
Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong to slash residential price threshold for investment immigration scheme
Hong Kong relaunched the investment scheme last year to allow foreign nationals, as well as residents of Taiwan, Macau, and mainland China who “have obtained permanent resident status in a foreign country,” to apply for a visa by investing at least HK$30 million in permissible assets.
Policy Address 2025: Pet dogs to be allowed inside restaurants under new licensing scheme
“Clear signage will be put up by permitted restaurants so that customers know that dogs are allowed,” Lee said, adding that the policy will create new business opportunities for the food and beverage industry.
Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong to hike non-local student quota at public universities to 50%
Chief Executive John Lee said the increase in non-local student intake at public universities to 50 per cent would not affect the 15,000 funded places currently reserved for local students.
Policy Address 2025: Gov’t staff to face warnings, pay cuts, dismissal for misconduct under new system
This summer, authorities were embroiled in a HK$52.9 million bottled water procurement scandal involving Xin Ding Xin Trading Co., which allegedly used fraudulent means to win a government contract.
Policy Address 2025: Hong Kong to set up special team to promote AI use across gov’t departments
The AI Efficacy Enhancement Team, to be led by Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, will drive a technological reform within the government, Chief Executive John Lee announced in the 2025 Policy Address.
